U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Afghanistan's Highways 1960–1967
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 117, Issue 3
Abstract
The Corps of Engineers managed construction of nearly one‐third of Afghanistan's modern road network. The Corps carried out the project, which took place in several segments over the period 1960–1967, through field offices in southern Asia. The effort was unusual for the Corps in that part of the world because it was strictly a civil project and had nothing to do with creation of military infrastructure. It also constituted the first face‐to‐face confrontation between American and Soviet foreign aid programs during the Cold War and was seen by American political leaders as a test of the national willingness to compete with the Soviets in a nonmilitary arena. The interconnection between diplomacy and construction continued for the duration of the program, and the border dispute between Afghanistan and Pakistan caused the greatest problems. In spite of this dispute and technical difficulties related to the stark Afghan topography and climate and the availability of construction materials, the program was a success.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
“Afghanistan construction projects.” (1960). Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 2/8 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway), Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
2.
The AID story. Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.
3.
Bonner, A. (1987). Among the Afghans. Duke University Press, Durham, N.C.
4.
Borders, W. (1979). “Only Soviet troops said to guard Kubul.” New York Times, Dec. 30, 10.
5.
Brasher, H. S. (1985). Afghanistan and the social union. Duke University Press, Durham, N.C.
6.
Byroade, H. A. (1961). The changing position of Afghanistan in Asia. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
7.
Cameron, H. F. (1966). Kabul‐Kandahar Highway Dedication Program, 7/13. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
8.
Cameron, H. F. (1988). Interview with William C. Baldwin. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
9.
Condron, G. T. (1959). “Corps of Engineers participation in ICA highway program in Afghanistan.” Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 12/1 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway, Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
10.
Dupree, L. (1973). Afghanistan. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.
11.
Dupree, N. H. (1967). The road to Balkh. Afghan Tourist Association, Kabul, Afghanistan.
12.
Eineigl, R. L. (1980). Interview with Frank N. Schubert. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
13.
Engineering News‐Record. (1966). Nov. 3.
14.
Fitzgerald, D. A. (1960a). Deputy Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 5/13 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway), Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
15.
Fitzgerald, D. A. (1960b). Deputy Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 5/18 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway, Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
16.
Franck, P. G. (1960). Afghanistan between East and West. National Planning Association, Washington, D.C.
17.
Gatch, J. N., Jr. (1961). “The Soviet Aid Program.” Current problems in Afghanistan. Princeton, N.J.
18.
Ghaus, A. S. (1988). The fall of Afghanistan: An insider's account. Pergamon‐Brassey's International Defense Publishers, Washington, D.C.
19.
Glasgow, W. M. (1981). Interview with Linn L. Sims, Charlotte, North Carolina. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
20.
Goldman, M. I. (1967). Soviet foreign aid. Frederick A. Praeger Co., New York, N.Y.
21.
Goutierre, T. (1980). Interview with Frank N. Schubert. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
22.
Gregorian, V. (1969). The emergence of modern Afghanistan: Politics of reform and modernization, 1880–1946. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif.
23.
Hillman, W. O. (1960). “ICA construction in Afghanistan.” Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 5/4 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway), Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
24.
Historical report, 21 November 1955–30 June 1960. (1960). Trans‐East Engineer District.
25.
History of the District March 1956–June 1965. (1965). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Teheran, Iran.
26.
Jacobs, G. (1985). “Afghanistan forces: how many Soviets are there?” Jane's Defence Weekly, 32, Jun. 22, 1228, 1230, 1232–1233.
27.
King, P. M. (1966). Afghanistan, cockpit in high Asia. Taplinger Publishing Co., New York, N.Y.
28.
Messall, C. M. (1963). “Modern highways for Afghanistan.” The Mil. Eng., 55, Nov.–Dec., 424–425.
29.
Newell, R. S. (1972). The politics of Afghanistan. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y.
30.
Project history and analysis report of the construction of the Herat‐Islam Oala Highway. (1968). Mediterranean Engineer Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
31.
Project history and analysis report of the construction of the Kabul‐Kandahar Highway, Afghanistan regional transit project, Afghanistan, for Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C. (1967). Mediterranean Engineer Division, Army Corps of Engineers.
32.
Renshaw, C. (1960). “Personnel for Afghanistan project.” (1960). Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 5/24 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway), Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
33.
Ruiz, A. (1969). “United States agency for international development highway program in Afghanistan.” Revista del CIAA, Jul.–Sep., 20–31.
34.
Saccio, L. J. (1959). Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 3/4 (Correspondence‐Afghanistan‐Kabul‐Kandahar Highway), Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Md.
35.
Salisbury, H. E. (1962). “Peaceful competition along Russia's borders.” New York Times Magazine, Apr. 8, 29.
36.
Smith, H. H., et al. (1973). Area handbook for Afghanistan. 4th Ed., Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
37.
Stephens, I. M. (1966). Horned moon. Benn, London, United Kingdom.
38.
Survey of progress, 1962–64. (1964). Ministry of Planning, Department of Statistics and Research, Kabul, Afghanistan.
39.
Swanson, H. A. (1959). “High roads of Afghanistan.” Mil. Eng., 51, Nov.–Dec., 462–465.
40.
Tansky, L. (1966). “Soviet foreign aid to less developed countries.” New Directions in the Soviet economy, Part 4, 89th U.S. Congress, 2d session.
41.
Turbiville, G. H., Jr. (1988). “Ambush! The road war in Afghanistan.” Army, 38, Jan., 32–35, 38–41.
42.
Urban, M. (1988). War in Afghanistan. St. Martin's Press, New York, N.Y.
43.
Voelker, W. (1988). Interview with Frank N. Schubert. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
44.
Walters, R. S. (1970). American and Soviet Aid: A comparative analysis. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa.
45.
Wilber, D. N. (1962). Afghanistan, its people, its society, its culture. HRAF Press, New Haven, Conn.
46.
Yarger, O. F. (1962). Military Construction Project File 1505‐11, 12/17, Washington Nat. Records Ctr., Suitland, Md.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 ASCE.
History
Published online: Sep 1, 1991
Published in print: Sep 1991
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.